PROTECTING the YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING: Punt Road Bridge to the Urban Growth Boundary Ii
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PROTECTING THE YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING: Punt Road Bridge to the Urban Growth Boundary ii PROTECTING THE YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING: PUNT ROAD BRIDGE TO THE URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY FUNDED BY PROTECTING THE YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING | YARRA RIVERKEEPER iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We acknowledge that the Yarra River - Birrarung - flows through the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people. We offer our respect to the Elders past, present and future of these traditional lands, and through them to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. DISCLAIMER This document is indented to provide an overview of the planning and development framework that applies to the Yarra River Corridor. The information contained in the report is of a general nature, and should not be used for the purposes of decision-making. © Ethos Urban 2018. This Publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. YARRA RIVERKEEPER | PROTECTING THE YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING iv Contents 1 BACKGROUND & CONTEXT 3 3 ENGAGING WITH THE PLANNING SYSTEM 45 1.1 This Project 4 3.1 Policy Contribution 46 1.2 The Study Area 5 3.2 Planning Permit Applications 47 1.3 Yarra River Protection Initiatives 6 3.3 Planning Strategy 50 1.4 New Planning Controls for the Yarra River 8 3.4 Key Issues of Interest to the Yarra Riverkeeper 52 1.5 Riverkeeper Association Values & Objectives 10 3.5 Responding to Planning Issues 64 2 THE PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK 13 3.6 Future Opportunities 65 2.1 Legislative Framework 14 4 REFERENCES 67 2.2 Planning Schemes 18 4.1 Key References and Resources 68 2.3 State and Local Planning Policy Frameworks 19 5 GLOSSARY 71 2.4 Land Use - Planning Zones 20 5.1 Key Terms 72 2.5 Development Overlays 28 2.6 New Overlays for Yarra River Protection 35 APPENDICES 2.7 Other Policies & Strategies 42 A Reference - The Planning Zones B Reference - Yarra River Protection Decision Guidelines C Example Site Investigations PROTECTING THE YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING | YARRA RIVERKEEPER v List of Figures List of Tables Figure 1. Lower and Middle Yarra Study Area 5 Table 1. Overview of Existing Zones 76 Figure 2. New Planning Controls for the Yarra River 9 Figure 3. Extent of 1km and 500m Yarra River Lands as Declared by the Yarra River Protection Act - Lower Yarra Reach 16 Figure 4. Extent of 1km and 500m Yarra River Lands as Declared by the Yarra River Protection Act - Middle Yarra Reach 17 Figure 5. Structure of Planning Schemes 18 Figure 6 to Figure 10. Planning Zones 23 Figure 11 to Figure 15. Planning Overlays 30 Figure 16 to Figure 20. DDO and SLO Extents 37 YARRA RIVERKEEPER | PROTECTING THE YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING vi Executive Summary This report enables the Yarra Riverkeeper The report includes recommendations on how Association (YRKA) to be more effective in its YRKA can strengthen its role at the planning participation in the planning system to protect the strategy level, including promoting YRKA as a Yarra River and its ecological, cultural and social thoughtful and informed stakeholder at all tiers of values. The report also assists in informing the government. community about relevant planning issues along the The report will assist YRKA in its role as the key Yarra and improves the reader’s ability to effectively community stakeholder for the Yarra River to be respond to planning applications along the Yarra, more effective in relation to planning policy and and to engage with local planning schemes Last strategy at state and local government levels. YRKA but not least, the report informs YRKA’s partners in advocates for the Yarra Riverkeeper to be consulted state and local government and in statutory about any planning consideration that relates to or agencies about the key planning issues that YRKA has a direct interface with the Yarra River corridor. sees as challenging the river, both currently and in the future, and what measures can and should be taken to protect and improve the Yarra. This report guides and assists YRKA’s engagement with planning policy and the planning system as it relates to the Yarra River Corridor. The document contains detailed background information relating policy changes introduced by the state government under Planning Scheme Amendment GC48 in February 2017. Maps within the document illustrate the extent of current planning controls that apply to the Yarra River corridor and its environs. The document explains the function and effect of the controls introduced in 2017 to Yarra, Stonnington, Boroondara, Banyule, Manningham and Nillumbik local government areas. PROTECTING THE YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING | YARRA RIVERKEEPER 1 YARRA RIVERKEEPER | PROTECTING THE YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK STUDY | YARRA RIVERKEEPER Background & Context 1 YARRA RIVERKEEPER | PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK STUDY 4 1.1 This Project Background Project Aims This Document This purpose of this project is to assist the Yarra The aims of this project are to: This document is intended to be used by the YRKA Riverkeeper Association (YRKA) in understanding as an advocacy tool for: + Provide a baseline assessment of the current how the newly introduced Yarra River corridor planning controls affecting land along the river + Planning and other policy development at the NILLUMBIK planning controls operate; and how they may be SHIRE COUNCIL corridor which clearly outlines the land use and State and local government level utilised to support the Association’s vision, aims and development parameters of each planning zone objectives. + Preparing submissions to planning permit and overlay. BANYULE CITY applications, VCAT cases and Planning Scheme COUNCIL North Warrandyte This will enable the Association to be well placed to + Prepare test case scenarios for several sites Amendments. Eltham speak for better design and development outcomes Lower Plenty with significant development potential, which The YRKA is a key stakeholder in planning for the for planning permit applications on private land. represent a range of different development River. Heidelberg It will also identify gaps in the current planning scenarios. Warrandyte Whenever possible, this document should be used framework and help to focus the Association’s + Identify gaps within the planning control Templestowe to support the YRKA’s advocacy efforts to be part of advocacy to government and agencies for improved framework that may impact on the achievement pre-policy discussions, moving away from reaction design and development outcomes on both public of the Association’s vision, aims and objectives. to early involvement in policy creation and agenda- and private land + Provide a guide to responding to planning setting. permit applications, including ways to access Bulleen The study area (shown in Figure 1 on the following Ivanhoe page) comprises land within and adjacent to the specialist expertise and suggested planning MANNINGHAM Yarra River corridor from the Punt Road Bridge permit conditions. CITY COUNCIL in Richmond to the Urban Growth Boundary in + Identify priorities for future policy work to Alphington Warrandyte. improve the planning control framework. Fairfield Balwyn + Identify opportunities which lie outside of the planning system for the Association to achieve YARRA CITY Kew its visions for promoting improved design within COUNCIL BOROONDARA the riverside environment, access to the river and CITY COUNCIL expression of social and cultural values. Hawthorn Richmond Hawthorn East Cremorne Burnley Toorak STONNINGTON CITY COUNCIL PROTECTING THE YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING | YARRA RIVERKEEPER Punt Road 5 1.2 The Study Area Figure 1. Lower and Middle Yarra Study Area NILLUMBIK SHIRE COUNCIL Local Government Area BANYULE CITY (LGA) boundary COUNCIL North Warrandyte Yarra River Eltham Lower Plenty Main Road Heidelberg Parkland or open space Warrandyte Templestowe Bulleen Ivanhoe MANNINGHAM CITY COUNCIL Alphington Fairfield Balwyn YARRA CITY Kew COUNCIL BOROONDARA CITY COUNCIL Hawthorn Richmond Hawthorn East Cremorne Burnley Toorak N STONNINGTON CITY COUNCIL YARRA RIVERKEEPER | PROTECTING THE YARRA CORRIDOR THROUGH BETTER PLANNING Punt Road 6 1.3 Yarra River Protection Initiatives Overview Yarra Strategic Plan In February 2017, the Minister for Planning The Yarra Strategic Plan will address four key approved Amendment GC48 which implements elements that encompass a wide range of issues: interim planning scheme overlay controls to protect + Environmental health of the waterway, and the Yarra River from inappropriate development. riparian lands (including the biodiversity corridor) The amendment applies to land within approximately 500m of the Yarra River between + Community use, access and amenity of the river Punt Road, Richmond and the outer eastern extent and its parklands of the township of Warrandyte. + The landscape setting and interface of the river corridor with adjacent land uses The new controls are part of a suite of measures introduced by the State Government to manage all + Cultural and heritage values in the riverscape. aspects of the river’s health, environment, amenity The Yarra Strategic Plan will include consideration and function. These initiatives are detailed in the of land use and development, landscape design Yarra River Action Plan. and built form management. It will extend the landscape assessment approach applied to the The initiatives include the